Welcome and thank you for your interest…

I am fundraising to help a team of medical researchers called the Geneva-Maastricht Group located in the Netherlands. They are currently working towards a prosthetic vestibular device which could help people suffering from a condition called Bilateral Vestibular Loss (BVL); in layman’s terms this simply means near/ total irreversible damage to the inner ear balance organs/nerves on both sides. They have already made huge strides in the development of the device which is much like the cochlear implant.

Take a look at this link to a recent article written about the device by the researchers https://www.entandaudiologynews.com/media/5892/entmj17-guyot-v2.pdf

BVL can arise from a number of causes from genetics to antibiotics, and many more. It affects people of all ages across the life span. Having a balance disorder doesn’t sound like a disability, but in fact 75% of people with BVL are disabled. It’s not just about being able to stand on a balance beam, or simply when you lose your balance riding a bike. Your eyes, ears and body receptors work in a synchronised way relaying information to the brain which enables healthy human beings to experience the world in such an intricate way, and is often attributed to as the sixth sense.

When the inner ears are damaged it can cause an array of issues, not only can it cause physical symptoms eg. unsteady gait, visual disturbances, lack of coordination, exhaustion etc., but just as disabling for some are the cogntive issues; inability to concentrate, memory loss, forgetting words, etc. The vestibular system is what makes up our sense of “self” and with out it many are left unable to function.

BVL can have devastating long-term effects and there is currently no effective treatment available. However with your help the Geneva Maastricht team will have more funding available to conduct the research, and ultimately aid people back from disability into the community!

Many Thanks for your support !